To this puri)ose we have his faithful engagement, Hos. ii. 19, 20, " I will," saith he, "betroth thee unto mc for ever; yea, I will betroth
OF COMMUNION WITH THE SON JESUS CHRIST. 55
thee UBto me in rigliteousiiess, and in judgment, and in loving-kind- ness, and in mercies. I will even beti'oth thee unto me in faithful- ness." And it is the main design of the mmistry of the gospel, to prevail "with men to give up themselves unto the Lord Christ, as he reveals his kindness in this engagement. Hence Paul tells the Co- rinthians, 2 Cor. xi. 2, that he had "espoused them unto one husband, that he might present them as a chaste virgin unto Christ." This he had prevailed upon them for, by the preaching of the gospel, that they should give up themselves as a virgin, unto him who had be- trothed them to himself as a husband.
And this is a relation wherein the Lord Jesus is exceedingly de- lighted, and inviteth others to behold him in this his glory. Cant, iii. 11, "Go forth," saith he, "0 ye daughters of Jerusalem, and behold king Solomon with the crown wherewith his mother crowned him in the day of his espousals, and in the day of the gladness of his heart." He calls forth the daughters of Jerusodem (all sorts of pro- fessors) to consider him in the condition of betrothing and espousing his church unto himself. Moreover, he tells them that they shall find on him two things eminently upon this account: — 1. Honour. It is the day of his coronation, and his spouse is the crown wlierewith he is crowned. For as Christ is a diadem of beauty and a crown of glory imto Zion, Isa. xxviii. 5 ; so Zion aJso is a diadem and a crowm unto him, Isa. Ixii. 3. Christ makes this relation with his saints to be his glory and his honour. 2. Delight. The day of his espousals, of taking poor sinful souls into his bosom, is the day of the gladness of his heart. Jolm was but the friend of the Bridegroom, that stood and heard his voice, when he was taking his bride unto himself; and he rejoiced greatly, John iii. 29 : how much more, then, must be the joy and gladness of the Bridegroom himseK! even that which is ex- pressed, Zeph. iii. 17, "he rejoiceth with joy, he joys with singing."
It is the gladness of the heart of Christ, the joy of his soul, to take poor sinners into this relation with himself. He rejoiced in the thoughts of it from eternity. Pro v. viii. 31 ; and always expresseth the gi'eatest willingness to undergo the hard task required thereunto, Ps. xl. 7, 8 ; Heb. x. 7 ; yea, he was pained as a woman in travail, until he had accomplished it, Luke xii. 50. Because he loved his church, he gave himself for it, Eph. v. 25, despising the shame, and enduiing the cross, Heb. xii. 2, that he might enjoy his bride, — that he might be for her, and she for him, and not for another, Hos. iii. 3. This is joy, when he is thus crowned by his mother. It is believers that are mother and brother of this Solomon, Matt. xii. 49, 50. They crown him in the day of his espousals, giving themselves to him, and be- coming his glory, 2 Cor. viii. 23.
Thus he sets out his whole communion with his church under this
56 OF COMMUNION WITH THE SON JERUS CHRIST.
allusion, and that most frequently. The time of his taking the church unto himself is the day of his marriage; and the church is his bride, his wife, Rev. xix. 7, 8. The entertainment he makes for his saints is a wedding supper, Matt. xxii. 3. The graces of his church are the ornaments of his queen, Ps. xlv. 9-14; and the fellowship he hath with his saints is as that which those who are mutually beloved in a conjugal relation do hold. Cant. i. Hence Paul, in describing these two, makes sudden and insensible transitions from one to the other, — Eph. v., from verse 22 unto verse 32; concluding the whole with an application unto Christ and the church.
It is now to be inquired, in the next place, how it is that we hold communion with the person of Christ in respect of conjugal relations and affections, and wherein this doth consist. Now, herein there are some things that are common unto Christ and the saints, and some things that are peculiar to each of them, as the nature of this relation doth require. The whole may be reduced unto these two heads: — [1.] A mutual resignation of themselves one to the other; [2.] Mu- tual, consequential, conjugal affections.
[1.] There is a mutual resignation, or making over of their persons one to another. This is the first act of communion, as to the personal grace of Christ. Christ makes himself over to the soul, to be his, as to all the love, care, and tenderness of a husband; and the soul gives up itself wholly unto the Lord Christ, to be his, as to all loving, ten- der obedience. And herein is the main of Christ's and the saints' espousals. This, in the prophet, is set out under a parable of himself and a harlot, Hos. iii. 3, " Thou shalt abide for me," saith he unto her, "thou shalt not be for another, and I will be for thee." — "Poor harlot," saith the Lord Christ, " I have bought thee unto myself with the price of mine own blood ; and now, this is that which we will consent